Fire-proof building



JJGILBERT. Fire-Proof Building.

. No. 224,173. Patented Feb 3,1880.

//// /////f//fl ihizsszs ATTO NEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FIRE-PROOF BUILDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 224,173, dated February 3, 1880.

Application'filed December 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JosErH GILBERT, of the cit y and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Proof Buildings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of a beam or girder and connected parts embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig.

3 is a vertical section of a spam Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention relates to means for protecting iron and wooden beams or girders in buildings from tire, increasing thefire-proof nature of the building, and adding an ornamental appearance to the lower flanges of the beams or girders, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The invention consists of I or flanged beams or girders, metallic sheaths, which cover the lower flanges thereof, lathing for the plaster, and skew-backs, which are fitted to the beams or girders and overhang the upper portions of the sheaths as hereinafter fully set forth.

Heferrin g to the drawings, A represents flanged beams or girders of metal or wood, and arranged in spans, as well known.

B represents sheaths, consisting of pieces of metal formed to incase the lower flanges of the beams or girders,and having riveted or otherwise secured to them the metal lathing O, by which the plastering a beneath the beams or girders is supported, it being evident, however, that the lathing may also be riveted to the lower flanges of thebearns. V

The lower flanges of beams or girders, unless protected, are, in the event of fire, exposed to the flames, the effect whereof is to soften said flanges or distort them, and thusthe skewbacks D or other abutments are released, and

the brick or metal arches drop, the effects whereof are evident.

By my invention the lower flanges are "inclosed or inc-ased in the metal sheaths,and thus protected; and as the sheaths are covered above by the skew-backs D and at sides and bottom by the plastering a, it is evident that the security of the beams or girders and the fire-proof nature. of the building are increased.

The plastering a also serves to relieve the under side of each beam or girder, and may be made neat and ornamental as a finish thereto. If desired, a slab of terra cotta may be interposed between the under side of the lower flange of each beam or girder and the upper face of the respective sheath, for increasing the protection of the beam or girder.

The skew-backs D may be constructed of 6o terra cotta, which is fire-proof, not liable to be crushed by the superimposed weight, and easily and cheaply formed in any shape.

The lathing U is bent or crimped into dovetail grooves, which effectively key or clinch the plaster audsecurelysustain it.

Having thus described my invention, what ,I'claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' 1. The I beams or girders A, in combination with the metallic sheaths B, incasing the lower flanges of said beams or girders, and the skewbacks D, fitted to the beams or girders and overhan gin gthe upper portions of said sheaths, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Beams or girders A, metal sheaths B, skew-backs ID, and metal lathin g 0, combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH GILBERT.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WmnERsHEnu, A. 1?. GRANT. 

